Stevenage (H)

[Tonge moor green jacket]

He will need to consult his man, the board and the players first.

They're still under contract, whether for a few weeks or further.

We may hear about Santos et al early on, if they've already said they're off, but any wanting to stay may be in negotiations. 

[Johnnyrotten]

5 hours ago, desperado said:

I’m looking forward to it. Suns out, Nam Ploy, no pressure, some youngsters in, hopefully bow out with a win and look forward with optimism for next year.

Some of you miserable fuckers will have your enforced “Can’t be arsed this Saturday, can’t wait for the season  to end” moment. 😂

Then secretly in a few weeks, when you’ve been tied into the shopping malarky and there’s no summer tournament, you’ll be missing your BWFC Saturdays

 

Its a stretch to say I'm looking forward to it, but it  hasn't crossed my mind not to go, as you say its a long summer with no football fix.  Its a few years since we went 3 whole months with no BW game or summer international tournament.

But I'm going to guess there will be some players playing tomorrow that would rather not be picked, they will have more than one eye on getting away for the summer with no injuries.  Proper end of season stuff, I'll be more invested in PNEs fate than our's tomorrow 😀

 

[athywhite1958]

Booked into Reflections for this one, see how the other half live

[desperado]

2 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Its a stretch to say I'm looking forward to it, but it  hasn't crossed my mind not to go, as you say its a long summer with no football fix.  Its a few years since we went 3 whole months with no BW game or summer international tournament.

But I'm going to guess there will be some players playing tomorrow that would rather not be picked, they will have more than one eye on getting away for the summer with no injuries.  Proper end of season stuff, I'll be more invested in PNEs fate than our's tomorrow 😀

 

Couldn’t disagree more

In that team I chose there’s only maybe Collins who doesn’t have a point to prove (and thats debatable) 

Added to that, while it’s their job and livelihood (and that should be a big motivating factor!) I think we forget that these are young lads who love playing football (they get to this level - in the main - by loving the game they play) 

So which one of these would rather not be picked?

Southwood - Wants to be 1st pick keeper 

Inwood - He’ll be Buzzing making his home league debut

Johnston - Back in after becoming a dad, can’t imagine he’d want to be doing anything else tomorrow!

Forino - Potential captain material next year. Leader 

Cogley. - Back in after his suspension. He won’t want to be on the sidelines.

Thomason. - Never shirks in attitude.

Matete - Massive point to prove. Could earn him a contract.

Schon - Another one who clearly looks like he loves playing 

Randall - Been out injured. He’ll want to follow up a good performance last week and show what he’s worth

Abimbola. As per Inwood, he’ll be buzzing, as will all the young lads.

Collins - Out last week. He’ll want to play to score goals and move up those charts 

 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

Matete a new contract!

I know you're an optimistic sort, but sodding hell, that's some stretch.

 

[desperado]

27 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Matete a new contract!

I know you're an optimistic sort, but sodding hell, that's some stretch.

 

You might be right! 😂

He has played well recently and does things the other midfielders don’t.

And if not here, he’ll need a contract somewhere else, so hardly in the category of not wanting to be picked tomorrow.

Ironically knowing @Johnnyrotten opinion of Matete it might be the only player he agrees with me on! 😂

[Eddie]

1 hour ago, desperado said:

Couldn’t disagree more

In that team I chose there’s only maybe Collins who doesn’t have a point to prove (and thats debatable) 

Added to that, while it’s their job and livelihood (and that should be a big motivating factor!) I think we forget that these are young lads who love playing football (they get to this level - in the main - by loving the game they play) 

So which one of these would rather not be picked?

Southwood - Wants to be 1st pick keeper 

Inwood - He’ll be Buzzing making his home league debut

Johnston - Back in after becoming a dad, can’t imagine he’d want to be doing anything else tomorrow!

Forino - Potential captain material next year. Leader 

Cogley. - Back in after his suspension. He won’t want to be on the sidelines.

Thomason. - Never shirks in attitude.

Matete - Massive point to prove. Could earn him a contract.

Schon - Another one who clearly looks like he loves playing 

Randall - Been out injured. He’ll want to follow up a good performance last week and show what he’s worth

Abimbola. As per Inwood, he’ll be buzzing, as will all the young lads.

Collins - Out last week. He’ll want to play to score goals and move up those charts 

 

You’ve got an unbelievable ability to look at things positively mate.

You might be right but I reckon other than the young lads, they’ll all be as disinterested as us and counting down the hours before they can get on a plane.

Any ideas that this one last game is going to change the mind of anyone in terms of contracts and captaincy is way wide of the mark in my opinion.

It’s basically an end of season friendly, because the useless twats fell to pieces 10 games ago.

[desperado]

Just now, Eddie said:

You’ve got an unbelievable ability to look at things positively mate.

You might be right but I reckon other than the young lads, they’ll all be as disinterested as us and counting down the hours before they can get on a plane.

Any ideas that this one last game is going to change the mind of anyone in terms of contracts and captaincy is way wide of the mark in my opinion.

It’s basically an end of season friendly, because the useless twats fell to pieces 10 games ago.

You won’t be surprised pal that I’m going to stick to my guns on this one 😂.

Go on then, who on that list (you’re not having Collins) won’t want to be picked tomorrow?

[Johnnyrotten]

1 minute ago, Eddie said:

You’ve got an unbelievable ability to look at things positively mate.

You might be right but I reckon other than the young lads, they’ll all be as disinterested as us and counting down the hours before they can get on a plane.

Any ideas that this one last game is going to change the mind of anyone in terms of contracts and captaincy is way wide of the mark in my opinion.

It’s basically an end of season friendly, because the useless twats fell to pieces 10 games ago.

I think you answered it better than I could have!

That's no disrespect to @desperado's viewpoint which I agree a bit with.  ie the young kids will be busting a gut to make an impression.  I'm thinking of established players sure of their place in the squad/team, I'll make an exception for Tomo who doesn't have it in him to be half hearted, same with Matete I'd say and yes Southwood. 

There will be a spell in the 2nd half when the subs start being made and the crowd is flat that they will be playing out the game not risking injury and will be happy to see their number go up to be subbed. 

The example of Collins - its OK to say he wants to get up the scoring charts, so he may try to score, will he try to fly into challenges on the half way line or run around to help out colleagues?  If he's only interested in scoring, he can hang around the box all day but it doesn't necessarily help the team. 

Anyway I don't really care if they care 😀 I'll enjoy what the game has to offer and move on after it as we all will.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

52 minutes ago, desperado said:

You might be right! 😂

He has played well recently and does things the other midfielders don’t.

And if not here, he’ll need a contract somewhere else, so hardly in the category of not wanting to be picked tomorrow.

Ironically knowing @Johnnyrotten opinion of Matete it might be the only player he agrees with me on! 😂

As pointed out elsewhere, he has another 12 months left at Sunderland. 

I don't mind the fella to be honest, just a victim of Evatt sadly.

My feeling, as I've said before, is that he doesn't seem to have been favoured by SS at Plymouth neither, so can't see it now. He has barely played, and is only in now because of injuries. 

[Rival Son]

1 hour ago, desperado said:

He has played well recently and does things the other midfielders don’t.

He’s played that well, we’ve lost virtually every match!

Matete is nowhere near what we need.

[Burndens Bogs]

For the most part we've been shit since Brum, apart from the freakish Rotherham game which we could and should have won 5-1.

The fortunate wins over Wigan & Bristol Rov was just papering over the cracks, we just haven't been good enough this season.

Injuries have hit us hard at the fag end of the season,but that's football & no doubt many other teams will have a lengthy crock list.

Our 4 is down to a 1 tomorrow - me.

Quite looking forward to it tbh. COYWM.

Edited May 2, 2025 by Burndens Bogs

[jeep]

Our 8 is still 8!

Although I'll be glad to see the back of this season. Looking forward to watching some cricket every Saturday for 3 months 🏏

[ianofcleveleys]

2 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I think you answered it better than I could have!

That's no disrespect to @desperado's viewpoint which I agree a bit with.  ie the young kids will be busting a gut to make an impression.  I'm thinking of established players sure of their place in the squad/team, I'll make an exception for Tomo who doesn't have it in him to be half hearted, same with Matete I'd say and yes Southwood. 

There will be a spell in the 2nd half when the subs start being made and the crowd is flat that they will be playing out the game not risking injury and will be happy to see their number go up to be subbed. 

The example of Collins - its OK to say he wants to get up the scoring charts, so he may try to score, will he try to fly into challenges on the half way line or run around to help out colleagues?  If he's only interested in scoring, he can hang around the box all day but it doesn't necessarily help the team. 

Anyway I don't really care if they care 😀 I'll enjoy what the game has to offer and move on after it as we all will.

I watched half of the Blackpool v Brum game the other night, and a chunk of Burton v Wigan. It'll be like those. No jeopardy, no edge, decent effort being put in but nobody doing anything daft, a bit of freedom to try a thing or two. 

It'll be a decent afternoon weather wise, some fun beforehand watching what unfolds in Championship, enjoy it, wave ta-ra till late July

[Kane57]

I'm looking forward to seeing the academy lads. 

 

I'm looking forward to saying goodbye to some absolute shite. 

[Johnnyrotten]

3 hours ago, Rival Son said:

He’s played that well, we’ve lost virtually every match!

Matete is nowhere near what we need.

Good luck finding players that are streets ahead of Matete (or any of our current midfielders).

They'll be queueing up to come down to L1.

[auckland_bwfc]

8 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Its a stretch to say I'm looking forward to it, but it  hasn't crossed my mind not to go, as you say its a long summer with no football fix.  Its a few years since we went 3 whole months with no BW game or summer international tournament.

But I'm going to guess there will be some players playing tomorrow that would rather not be picked, they will have more than one eye on getting away for the summer with no injuries.  Proper end of season stuff, I'll be more invested in PNEs fate than our's tomorrow 😀

 

9/4 to get relegated is very tempting, and very possible. 

[Rival Son]

9 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Good luck finding players that are streets ahead of Matete (or any of our current midfielders).

You don’t believe the club that’s arguably the biggest in next season’s League One (assuming Derby stay up) can’t attract a player better than someone who:

could barely start in Sunderland’s promotion team;

could barely start in Plymouth’s promotion team;

could barely start in Oxford’s promotion team;

and could only start in Bolton’s mid table team when at least three other midfielders were unavailable, and usually ended up on the losing side?

If that’s the case our new manager and sporting director aren’t up to the job.

[Johnnyrotten]

12 minutes ago, Rival Son said:

You don’t believe the club that’s arguably the biggest in next season’s League One (assuming Derby stay up) can’t attract a player better than someone who:

could barely start in Sunderland’s promotion team;

could barely start in Plymouth’s promotion team;

could barely start in Oxford’s promotion team;

and could only start in Bolton’s mid table team when at least three other midfielders were unavailable, and usually ended up on the losing side?

If that’s the case our new manager and sporting director aren’t up to the job.

Or put another way, 3 of his last 4 clubs have got promoted and the other is the biggest club in L1.  Yet he's nowhere near good enough to play in a top half L1 team. 

The other factor is I'm just looking at performances I see myself, rather than trusting the judgement of the likes of IE who thought Etete, Murphy, Vic, Randall etc were good investments/improvements.  I'll make my own mind up.

Genuinely I'll be the first to hold my hands up if we get better, and we might well do if we splash the cash - it will be an interesting summer that's for sure, I'd love us to get someone in that's at the next level.

[Rival Son]

And on your final point, I fully agree. 😀

[desperado]

Read through from 6 hours ago, I’ve not been persuaded otherwise that any of our players don’t want to get picked tomorrow 😂

[desperado]

And by the way, just in case anyone thinks I’m a deluded happy clapper. Those “injured” don’t get a free ride in my mind.

And those fucking off; Santos, Etete can now can be derided- shit houses

But let’s not tie everyone with the same brush. If the 11 out there tomorrow give it 100% (which I believe they will) and go out there and get a win, then fair play they couldn’t have done anymore on the day.

[Steejay]

Using a glass half full measure of positivity, I reckon @desperado is definitely over the pint measure with a good head on it, while @Johnnyrotten is a lizard’s jizz in the bottom of the cup.

[freds dad]

15 hours ago, athywhite1958 said:

Booked into Reflections for this one, see how the other half live

See you in there. Mines a pint.

[tomski]

I’m in the middle somewhere on this. As someone who does not enjoy summer sports I know I’m going to miss it so will ‘enjoy’ the game.

That said I’m more excited about the retained list when ever it comes out. See a few reports saying we will fight it out for Ennis today with Wigan which I suppose makes sense.

Be nice to round the season off with a win. 

Fair play to the available lads today. Less fair play too our ‘injured’ heroes